Why do we get confused? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     One form of confusion can be when you believe in your perspective and act upon it while in reality it is something else.  In Walking Through Illusion, Thompson talks about Philip, a tailor from the Bible.  "...he believed that his disrespectful children were the reason he was miserable.  As Philip confides in Jesus, he explains that, "To earn their respect, Philip, you have to understand what respect means to you."  The point is that Philip's perspective was all wrong.  He thought the problem was his children's to solve and not his own.  He would make more rules for his children but he never enforced them.  How could his children respect him if he didn't respect himself and his own rules?  Also, did he listen to his children's request?  If he wanted to be heard then he also needed to hear them.  This all added to Philip's confusion.
     I think all of us want to be liked by others.  I let others know I like them even if I've just met them.  Some of those people, but not too many actually rub me the wrong way.  I fake being nice to them but behind closed doors I will say how I really feel, usually to Nate or my sister.  In turn, when I meet them again, they may not be as friendly as they were the first time.  Thus, confirming my beliefs that they rub me the wrong way.  Possibly, it's because I've talked poorly about them and the law of mirrors reflects that and returns it back to me.  I've always been confused as to why this happens and now I understand.  Changing the logic the other way around; What if they don't like me and talk behind my back?  Then, the next time I see them I unknowingly am not as cordial.  Maybe because they are getting their feelings about me returned to them.  It sounds confusing but it makes sense!  Try to notice how you treat others and how they treat you back.  Look at what you say behind their back as opposed to how you are when you are with them.  Are they reflecting your attitude toward them back on you?